Toilet appliance



F. LAUFER Oct. 10, '1933.

TOILET APPLIANCE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed July 16, 1929 livuenior: h

F. LAUFER TOILET APPLIANCE Original Filed July 16, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 27 van Zfor /7 i Patented 0a. 10, 1933 UNITED STATES TOILET APPLIANCE Franz Laiifer, Prague-Zizkov, Czechoslovakia Application July 16, 1929, Serial No. 378,715, and in Czechoslovakia July 17, 1928; Renewed August 30, 1933 4 Claims.

is performed mechanically, by means of an apparatus. The apparatus is actuated, and the duration of the cleaning, is regulated by the hand. The construction of the apparatus prevents all possibility of contact between the hand and the surface to be cleaned.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 represents the vertical longitudinalsection of a water closet bowl provided with my invention showing all the parts thereof in their active position, whilst Fig. 2 shows the vertical longitudinal section of a water closet bowl provided with my invention, all the parts of the latterbeing in their inactive position. Fig. 3 is the vertical cross section of a water closet bowl provided with my invention, Figs. 4 and 5 are detailed views of the cutting mechanism and the actuating means thereof, and the front view of the cutting mechanism respectively. Figs. 6 and '1 are the enlarged views of the armlever with a wiping head and the cross section thereof. Fig. 8 is a view showing details of the arrangement of a pair of engaging rollers 'above the armlever and also cross section of the said rollers.

Similar numerals refer to the similar parts in all the views of the accompanying drawings:

A lever having two parts 1 and 2, connected by a joint is fixed on shaft'14. A flat spring 17 attached to part 1 of said lever presses upwards part 2 of said lever, causing pressure of the latter'on the surface to be cleaned. The spiral spring 6 connected on the one hand to cam 10, which is securely fixed on the shaft 14, and on the other hand to the casing, keeps lever 1 and 2 in its normal inactive position within the casing. By means of handlever 5 and the operating gear 3, 4, lever 1, 2 can be pushed clockwise into the water closet bowl 18 for the purpose of cleaning. A band-of cleaning material 31, either paper, textile or the like, is conducted over the lever 2. By a pair of engaging rollers 22, the cleaning material is pressed to the corrugated back 33 of the lever 2. This material unwinds from roll '7 and glides over one or more guiding rollers 32.

(Cl. l -1) Pressure is exerted on the engaging rollers 22 by cleaning material 8 is placed in front of the head 26 of the lever 2, when the latter is in its inactive position within the casing. This mechanism consists of the rigid blade 19 and an upwards and downwards'movable blade 12, which glides precisely in its frame 20. The two spiral springs 21, connecting both blades 12 and 19 keep the cutting mechanism closed when the apparatus is not in use. This cutting mechanism is opened by lifting the movable blade 12. This is done automatically by means of a set of operating levers 11', 16. For this purpose the cam 15 is fixed securely to the shaft 14. This cam 15 is provided with a cam nose 29 which, when said shaft is turned, engages a small roller 3'7 on the operating lever 11 and thus forces the cutting mechanism to open automatically. At the same time, i. e. whilst the shaft 14 'is turned, the saidcam 15 reaches and presses a pair of flexible bag clips 23, by means of its nose 27. Between these clips 23 a rubber bulb containing air 25 is placed. The clips, on being pressed by the cam nose 2'] will in turn compress the air in the bulb 25. From the bulb 25 the air will be forced through a tube to a container 24 filled with a liquid disinfectant and force the latterv through another tube to an atomizer 9 which will spray the liquid thinly on the cleaning material 8. The complete apparatus with exception of levers 2, 4 and 5 is contained in the casing which is attached and adapted to the water closet bowl. All bearings for the shaft ends are let or drilled into the casing.

The procedure now is as follows:

Handlever 5 is to be pulled slowly forward and, as the shaft 14 is turned by the pulling rod 4, the cam 15 with its nose 29 will engage with the small roller 37 on the lowest of the operating levers 11 and 16 and force the levers upwards.

The movable knife 12 is likewise forced upwards and the cutting mechanism is opened, the spiral springs 21 are stretched. At the same time the lever 1, 2 moves forward in the longitudinal direction of the water closet bowl, between the now opened blades 12 and 19. The corrugation of the back 33 of the lever 2 takes effect and the cleaning material 8 pressed by means of the plate during its forward movement, supported by the engaging rollers 22 must take the cleaning material 8 with it. When'the movement of the lever is reversed, the corrugation takes no effect and leaves the used part of the cleaning material in its advanced position in the water closet bowl, the lever gliding back underneath without engaging the material, allowing it to slip off into the bowl. As may be seen in Fig. 7 the cross cut of the lever back 33 is wedge shaped, so that the engaging rollers 22 form a slight bend in the cleaning material 8 by their pressure, preventing said material from slipping off either side of the lever 2. Simultaneous to the turning of the shaft 14, cam 15 with its nose 27 has reached and pressed the flexible bag clips 23. The clips in turn will compress the air within the bulb and the air will be forced through a tube to a container 24 filled with a liquid. The container again is connected by a tube with an atomizer 9 which will spray the liquid thinly on the cleaning material 8.

If handlever has been pressed sufficiently far forward, so that the wiping head 26 of the lever 2 has reached the surface to be cleaned, the cleaning begins by forward and backward movements of the handlever 5. The duration of the cleaning and intensity of the wiping may be regulated by hand, according to individual requirement. The flat spring 17 ensures sufiicient pressure of the cleaning material 8 on the surface to be cleaned. The corrugation of the back 33 of the lever 2 is continued with less strength on the wiping head 26, but also here the teeth point in the direction of the forward movement. Thus also at this point a constant fresh supply of cleaning material is ensured. The cleaning having been effected, handlever 5 is to be released. The pulling force of the spring 6 draws it back into its normal position. Consequently the shaft 14 with all the levers and cams securely fixed to it repeat the same reversed movement. Only the cleaning band remains in its advanced position and slips into the bowl, the armlever 2 with its head 26 gliding back into the casing. At the same time when lever 2 reaches again its normal position within the easing, cam also turns back to the normal position and releases the automatic engagement of the roller 3'? on the operating lever 11. The pulling force of the springs 6 which were stretched until now, is released and pulls down blade 12 in its frame 20. The used part 31 of the cleaning material 8 will be cut off and fall into the water closet bowl. A usual rinsing arrangement will wash the used part of the material away.

The advantages of this apparatus, as compared with the procedure used presently, are mostly of a hygienic nature, as there is no possibility of the hand touching either the anus nor the used cleaning material. The apparatus can be easily handled and does away with a disliked procedure. Simple and inexpensive construction and easy handling permits of the use of this apparatus in comfortable and luxurious bathing rooms, hotels, public buildings and hospitals.

A further advantage of the apparatus is that it permits the use of the now existing shapes and sizes of water closet bowls and therefore also the same requirement of space.

All parts of the apparatus are made of rustproof steel with the exception of the lever 2 which is made of hard rubber. Operating levers and handlever 5 are nickel-plated. As all parts of the apparatus forming the patent claims are placed within the casing, the apparatus may be put together at the place of manufacture which considerably tends to decrease the cost of production. Otherwise all the axle bearings would have to be let into, or soldered on to the water closet bowl. It would prove very diflicult to do this accurately to measure and, besides, the steel or bronze bearings would have to be put in separately. The various shaft hearings in the shape of orbicular rings are soldered to the casing which is made of strong sheet iron, and they are,

two at a time, drilled so as to fit exactly the measure of the shaft. A further advantage of this casing is the fact that the apparatus may be thoroughly tested at the place of manufacture. Consequently the bowl manufacturer may buy apparatuses ready for useand no special work is required when installing the apparatus.

The cleaning material may be either paper, textile or paper wadding. To prevent paper or paper wadding from tearing it could be provided with a quilting seam running the entire length of the material. The supply of cleaning material on the roll of such an apparatus would suffice for about to cleanings. The last ten meters could show a colored rim in order to facilitate the control of the still available length of material. The empty roll can be taken out from the casing through a door 28 at one side of the casing. The disinfecting contrivance is intended as an emer-- gency, should no disinfected cleaning material be obtainable. The refilling of the container 24. is likewise effected through a door in one side of the casing, left for that purpose. As evident from the specification the forward movement is automatic. The corrugation on the lever, wiping head and the engaging rollers ensures the fresh supply of cleaning material at the point of action. Whilst the wedge shape of the back of the lever prevents the cleaning material from slipping off before the anus has been reached, the main object of the wedge shape, especially at the head, is to conform to the surface to be cleaned. To ensure the penetration of the wiping head to the anus, the flat spring 17 is made of sufficiently strong material and the lever 2 is connected with its front part by a knuckle joint. The pressure of the cleaning material, if too strong, can be easily regulated by lifting the surface to be cleaned, according to individual feeling. The movable blade 12 is of broad construction and glides precisely in its frame so that it cannot easily lose its great sharpness. The business side of this movable blade is arranged at a small angle to that of the rigid blade, so that, similar to scissors, the cutting commences at the rim of the cleaning material. The rinsing of the bowl is effected in the usual way. Only instead of one pipe, centrally situated at the back of the bowl, two pipes 38 are used on the left and right side, in the rear of the bowl. It is intended that the apparatus should be worked by hand, this being the cheapest, most comfortable and simple means. Besides this, it may be regulated and controlled according to individual requirement.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and wish to secure patent rights for is:

l. The combination of a water closet bowl with an apparatus for the cleaning of the anus, comprising a casing, a turnable shaft with a flexible armlever having two parts wedge shaped in cross. section and corrugated on the upper surface, a knuckle joint connecting the two parts of said armlever, a flat spring on one part of the said armlever and exerting upward pressure on the other part of said armlever and means for imparting a to and fro travel to this said armlever, all as specified.

2. The combination of a water closet bowl with an apparatus for the cleaning of the anus, comprising a casing, a turnable shaft with a flexible armlever, a cam on the said shaft, a cam nose on said cam, operating levers having a roller and connected to a blade having an upward and downward travel, a frame for said blade, 9. stationary blade, a, spiral spring connected to the two aforesaid blades, and actuating means for said operating levers to impart a to and fro travel to said movable blade, all as specified.

3. The combination of a water closet bowl with an apparatus for the cleaning of the anus, com= prising a casing, a turnable shaft having a flexible armlever connected thereto and having a bevelled upper surface, a suitable supply of cleaning material, a pair of rollers and means to impart pressure to said pair of rollers and on the corrugated upper surface of the said armlever and means to supply the said armlever automatically with fresh cleaning material, all as specified.

4. The combination of a water closet bowl with an apparatus for the cleaning of the anus, comprising a casing, a turnable shaft having a cam with a cam nose, a pair of bag clips, a rubber bulb containing air, a tube connecting said rubber bulb with a container for liquids, an. atomizer, a tube connecting said container with the atomizer, and means to spray the liquids, all as specified.

FRANZ LAUFER. 

